One of the most difficult and oldest european endurance rides: the
160 km Florac in France.

Held
on September 7th, the ride this year was also the French championships
2002. 109 starters of 5 different nations crossed the start-line
4 a.m. to do the first loop to "La Béssède",
46 km in the darkness. It was amazing to see this 109 riders along
a light-line in the mountains of the "Parque National des Haute
Cevennes". The fastest speed of the first loop (Phillipe Thomas)
was 15,5 km/h, a little bit more than in 2001.

The
second loop (43 km) crossed the "Mont Aigeual", 1.578
m altitude, than straight down to "Meryueis" to the second
Vet gate at "Aven Armand". The track was very stony, the
speed high and therefore some of the leading riders fall out. Claire
Lux on Datila, AR, left this gate in the first group, Cecille Miletto
on Falène de la Drome, SF, owner H.H. Sh. Mohammed al Maktoum,
and Cecille Démière on Menkhan, AR, in the sec. group.

Crossing
over the "Cause Mejean" 37 km, the competitors arrived
in "Ispargnac", a small village in the valley "Gorges
du Tarn".

Only
22 km, Cecille Démierre left at first place for the third
loop, 1 minute after Cecille Miletto and two minutes after Claire
Lux. All three riders arrived together at the last Vet gate and
passed without any problems.

Only
8 km to run to the finish in Florac, and Demièrre left, once
more, as first for the finish, short time later, Miletto and Lux.

Hundreds
of spectators saw half an hour later a very happy Miletto on Falène
de la Drome as winner of the Florac 2002 Ride and the new and old
French Champion, sec. Claire Lux and third Démierre.

First
man after this "girl-group" was Samuel Bettendorf, 4 th
place.

52
competitors did finish this difficult ride, a little bit less than
50%. This is a very good result.